Towards a uniform sensor-handling scheme for Ambient Intelligence systems

Sensors are one of the fundamental components of Ambient Intelligence systems. Through sensors AmI systems gather information about the environment, which allows them to assist people in their activities. Depending upon their function and power supply, sensors pose different handling requirements by an AmI system. Interaction with battery powered sensors should be kept to a minimum in order to maximize battery life, while interaction with critical sensors, such as security door sensors, should be as frequent as possible. Additionally, there is a wide array of sensor communication technologies such as X-10, ZigBee, serial and WiFi. To adequately handle the various types of sensors and the different sensor communication forms we propose the use of a uniform sensor-handling scheme. This scheme will enable AmI systems, such as those developed with our Modular Scheme for the Integration of Ambient Intelligence Systems, to handle sensors in a uniform way.